Caregivers of Children with Autism: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Strain and Treatment Satisfaction

This study used an explanatory sequential mixed method design to investigate the relationship between caregiver strain and perceived treatment satisfaction with behavioral based treatments (BBT) with caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One hundred and twenty-three caregivers of children with ASD who are currently receiving or have had experience with BBTs participated in this study. Quantitative data were collected through a survey that included a measure of demographics, level of ASD severity (Goldstein & Naglieri, 2010), caregiver strain (Brannan et al., 1997), and treatment satisfaction (Grey et al., 2019). Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Synthesis of quantitative, qualitative, and integrated results suggests three multidimensional findings: (a) subjective strain is an important factor that affects the outcomes of the treatment; (b) the availability of social resources contribute significantly to the experience of the treatment; and (c) negative experiences with BBTs are prevalent among caregivers across levels of satisfaction. Implications for caregiver support and recommendations for policy, research, and practice are discussed.

Author

• Chen, Chaoran

Language

• en

Keyword

• treatment satisfaction
• caregiver strain
• applied behavioral analysis

Date created

• 2022

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Special Education

Degree

• Ed.D.

Advisor

• Rice, Elisabeth

Committee Member(s)

• Kutscher, Elisabeth
• Wallace, Greg

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/cj82k8048